Evolutionary DP Psych

explanation
for Behavior
 Theory of evolution
01

Evolutionary
02 explanations

Explanation for
03 disgust
 01
Theory of evolution
Charles Darwin
Darwin’s theory

Evolution
Process by which organisms change
from generation to generation - need
to survive and reproduce

Survival of the fittest

Organisms well adapted to the
environment have higher chances of
surviving and producing offspring
Natural
Selection

Organisms less adapted do not pass

on their genes - those genes
disappear from the population pool.
Biological evidence - DNA
similarities (humans)
Human - Chimpanzees -
99.5% 98%

Cats - Rats -
90% 69%

Chickens and
fruit flies - 60%
 02
Evolutionary
explanation in
Psych
Behavior as adaptation
Evolutionary explanations

Mental Influence of
Disorders emotion
Chiao and Blizinsky (2010) - LeDoux (1996) - processing fear
genetic susceptibility to stimuli
depression

Altruism Attachment

Kin selection theory - Hamilton Harlow (1958)

(1964) Shaver and Hazan (1988)
Madsen et al (2007)
 03
Explanation for
disgust
Protection against
diseases
Disgust: evolved as protection
from risk of disease - conditions
Disgust should operate in a
01
similar way across cultures
Disgust should be more
02
pronounced in females as a
protective tool for their
babies and herselves
Disgust should be stronger
03
in contact with strangers
(new pathogens) than with
close relatives
Disgust should become weaker
04
with age (declination of
reproductive potential - less
need to care the offspring)
Explanation for disgust

Curtis, Aunger and Rabie (2004)